Feb 8, 2012

Allopathic doctors community supports ISM sector's plea to be part of NCHRH

Pharmabiz February 08, 2012, 08:00 Hrs [IST]

In their efforts to incorporate the
Indian systems of medicine to the NCHRH Bill, the Ayurveda doctors
community and practitioners of other Indian system of medicines in the
country have received support from an unexpected quarters. In their
support, the private allopathic doctors and hospital managements’
association, QPMPA, has also urged the union health ministry and the
chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on health & family
welfare to incorporate the Indian systems to the NCHRH Bill.

The
Qualified Private Medical Practitioners Association (QPMPA), after
gathering signatures from all of its members, submitted a memorandum to
the authorities asking them to review their decision. The allopathic
doctors argue that there is no need of a separate Commission/Council for
the ISM sector. According to them, all disciplines of health services
should be under one umbrella. Regarding research and development in the
field of medical or health education, the new bill does not give any
direction or idea, the association observed.

Speaking to
Pharmabiz, QPMPA secretary Dr Kishore Kumar said the NCHRH Bill does not
give a clear picture about how to enhance and promote the standard of
education in the health sector. It also fails to facilitate the growth
of adequate human resources to the services of hundred crore plus Indian
population. While framing the bill the policy makers have forgotten the
importance of academic excellence. He said without the association of
Indian systems, it is not possible to manage the health needs of the
rural India.

As a suggestion to the policy makers of India, Dr
Kishore Kumar said for promoting national education on health, the
government must conduct a national common admission test and MBBS be
made as the minimum qualification to treat a sick person, except
dentistry. The MBBS degree holders can specialize in various segments
of alternative medicines and follow that line. He pointed out that since
the minimum qualification is MBBS, nobody will question or raise
suspicion over the methods of treatment and the dignity of the
practitioners could be maintained. He alleged that the present NCHRH
bill was following the lines of imperial rulers of British colonialism
and the Union government should immediately intervene in the matter.

Further,
QPMPA suggested that the university concept itself has to be changed
provided a national body to control the medical education is realized.
All the councils and universities are just to satisfy a group of
academicians and politicians. To strengthen the medical education, all
the courses should be conducted by respective colleges and those pass
out can register with the national body to practice their discipline. It
is suggested that NCHRH bill should specifically contain a national
common agenda for health education and human resources irrespective of
western or Indian systems.

The QPMPA will gather suggestions from
doctors of all the states and union territories in support of its
decisions and suggestions.

The Confederation of Ayush community
in Kerala had earlier submitted a memorandum to the union government
requesting inclusion of ISM in the Bill.